The Good End of Gunanidhi, in the Kailasa Episode

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.18.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । श्रुत्वा तथा स वृत्तान्तं प्राक्तनं स्वं विनिन्द्य च । काञ्चिद्दिशं समालोक्य निर्ययौ दीक्षिताङ्गजः

brahmovāca | śrutvā tathā sa vṛttāntaṁ prāktanaṁ svaṁ vinindya ca | kāñciddiśaṁ samālokya niryayau dīkṣitāṅgajaḥ

Brahma said: Having heard this news, and reviling his own past conduct, the dikshita's son looked toward some direction and set out from the house.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.18.2)

कियच्चिरं ततो गत्वा यज्ञदत्तात्मजः स हि । दुष्टो गुणनिधिस्तस्थौ गतोत्साहो विसर्जितः

kiyacciraṁ tato gatvā yajñadattātmajaḥ sa hi | duṣṭo guṇanidhistasthau gatotsāho visarjitaḥ

Having walked some distance, that son of Yajnadatta, the wicked Gunanidhi, stopped there, drained of all resolve, cast out by his own.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.18.3)

चिन्तामवाप महतीं क्व यामि करवाणि किम् । नाहमभ्यस्तविद्योऽस्मि न चैवातिधनोऽस्म्यहम्

cintāmavāpa mahatīṁ kva yāmi karavāṇi kim | nāhamabhyastavidyo'smi na caivātidhano'smyaham

A great anxiety seized him: 'Where shall I go, what shall I do? I have mastered no learning, nor do I possess much wealth.'

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.18.4)

देशान्तरे यस्य धनं स सद्यः सुखमेधते । भयमस्ति धने चौरात्स विघ्नः सर्वतो भवः

deśāntare yasya dhanaṁ sa sadyaḥ sukhamedhate | bhayamasti dhane caurātsa vighnaḥ sarvato bhavaḥ

'He who has wealth in a foreign land quickly comes to comfort. But wealth itself brings the fear of thieves, and becomes a source of trouble from every side.'

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.18.5)

याजकस्य कुले जन्म कथं मे व्यसनं महत् । अहो बलीयान्हि विधिर्भावि कर्मानुसन्धयेत्

yājakasya kule janma kathaṁ me vyasanaṁ mahat | aho balīyānhi vidhirbhāvi karmānusandhayet

'Born though I am in a family of sacrificing priests, why has this great misfortune fallen upon me? Ah, how mighty is fate — it is destiny alone that action must follow.'

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.18.6)

भिक्षितुं नाधिगच्छामि न मे परिचितः क्वचित् । न च पार्श्वे धनं किञ्चित्किमत्र शरणं भवेत्

bhikṣituṁ nādhigacchāmi na me paricitaḥ kvacit | na ca pārśve dhanaṁ kiñcitkimatra śaraṇaṁ bhavet

'I do not even know how to beg, nor is anyone here known to me; nor is there any wealth by my side — what refuge is there for me here?'

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.18.7)

सदानभ्युदिते भानौ प्रसूर्मे मिष्टभोजनम् । दद्यादद्यात्र कं याचे न चेह जननी मम

sadānabhyudite bhānau prasūrme miṣṭabhojanam | dadyādadyātra kaṁ yāce na ceha jananī mama

'Even before sunrise, my mother would always give me sweet food to eat; whom shall I ask for it here? Here, my mother is not with me at all.'

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.18.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति चिन्तयतस्तस्य बहुशस्तत्र नारद । अतिदीनं तरोर्मूले भानुरस्ताचलं गतः

brahmovāca | iti cintayatastasya bahuśastatra nārada | atidīnaṁ tarormūle bhānurastācalaṁ gataḥ

Brahma said: O Narada, as he sat thus, wretched, thinking again and again at the foot of a tree, the sun sank toward the western mountain.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.18.9)

एतस्मिन्नेव समये कश्चिन्माहेश्वरो नरः । सहोपहारानादाय नगराद् बहिरभ्यगात्

etasminneva samaye kaścinmāheśvaro naraḥ | sahopahārānādāya nagarād bahirabhyagāt

At that very moment, a certain devotee of Shiva, carrying with him offerings of many divine kinds, came out of the town.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.18.10)

नानाविधान्महादिव्यान्स्वजनैः परिवारितः । समभ्यर्चितुमीशानं शिवरात्रावुपोषितः

nānāvidhānmahādivyānsvajanaiḥ parivāritaḥ | samabhyarcitumīśānaṁ śivarātrāvupoṣitaḥ

Keeping the fast of Shivaratri, surrounded by his kinsmen, he went bearing many kinds of splendid materials to worship the Lord.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.18.11)

शिवालयं प्रविश्याथ स भक्तः शिवसक्तधीः । यथोचितं सुचित्तेन पूजयामास शङ्करम्

śivālayaṁ praviśyātha sa bhaktaḥ śivasaktadhīḥ | yathocitaṁ sucittena pūjayāmāsa śaṅkaram

That devotee, his mind wholly given to Shiva, entered the temple and worshipped Shankara with due rite and a pure heart.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.18.12)

पक्वान्नगन्धमाघ्राय यज्ञदत्तात्मजो द्विजः । पितृत्यक्तो मातृहीनः क्षुधितः स तमन्वगात्

pakvānnagandhamāghrāya yajñadattātmajo dvijaḥ | pitṛtyakto mātṛhīnaḥ kṣudhitaḥ sa tamanvagāt

Catching the scent of cooked food, that brahmin's son, son of Yajnadatta — cast off by his father, without his mother, and famished — followed after him.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.18.13)

इदमन्नं मया ग्राह्यं शिवायोपकृतं निशि । सुप्ते शैवजने दैवात्सर्वस्मिन्विविधं महत्

idamannaṁ mayā grāhyaṁ śivāyopakṛtaṁ niśi | supte śaivajane daivātsarvasminvividhaṁ mahat

'This food, offered to Shiva at night, I should take — once all these Shiva-devotees are asleep, by chance I shall get a good share of it.'

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.18.14)

इत्याशामवलम्ब्याथ द्वारि शम्भोरुपाविशत् । ददर्श च महापूजां तेन भक्तेन निर्मिताम्

ityāśāmavalambyātha dvāri śambhorupāviśat | dadarśa ca mahāpūjāṁ tena bhaktena nirmitām

Clinging to this hope, he sat down at the door of Shiva's temple, and watched the great worship performed by that devotee.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.18.15)

विधाय नृत्यगीतादि भक्ताः सुप्ताः क्षणे यदा । नैवेद्यं स तदादातुं भर्गागारं विवेश ह

vidhāya nṛtyagītādi bhaktāḥ suptāḥ kṣaṇe yadā | naivedyaṁ sa tadādātuṁ bhargāgāraṁ viveśa ha

When, after performing dance, song, and the rest, the devotees fell asleep for a while, he entered the sanctum of Shiva to take the offered food.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.18.16)

दीपं मन्दप्रभं दृष्ट्वा पक्वान्नवीक्षणाय सः । निजचैलाञ्चलाद्वर्तिं कृत्वा दीपं प्रकाश्य च

dīpaṁ mandaprabhaṁ dṛṣṭvā pakvānnavīkṣaṇāya saḥ | nijacailāñcalādvartiṁ kṛtvā dīpaṁ prakāśya ca

Seeing the lamp burning dim, and wishing to search out the cooked food, he tore a strip from the edge of his own garment, made a wick of it, and made the lamp burn bright again.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.18.17)

यज्ञदत्तात्मजः सोऽथ शिवनैवेद्यमादरात् । जग्राह सहसा प्रीत्या पक्वान्नं बहुशस्ततः

yajñadattātmajaḥ so'tha śivanaivedyamādarāt | jagrāha sahasā prītyā pakvānnaṁ bahuśastataḥ

Then that son of Yajnadatta hastily and with relish took up a great quantity of the food offered in reverence to Shiva.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.18.18)

ततः पक्वान्नमादाय त्वरितं गच्छतो बहिः । तस्य पादतलाघातात्प्रसुप्तः कोऽप्यबुध्यत

tataḥ pakvānnamādāya tvaritaṁ gacchato bahiḥ | tasya pādatalāghātātprasuptaḥ ko'pyabudhyata

As he hurried out carrying the cooked food, the blow of his foot woke someone who had been asleep there.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.18.19)

कोऽयं कोऽयं त्वरापन्नो गृह्यतां गृह्यतामसौ । इति चुक्रोश स जनो गिरा भयमहोच्चया

ko'yaṁ ko'yaṁ tvarāpanno gṛhyatāṁ gṛhyatāmasau | iti cukrośa sa jano girā bhayamahoccayā

That man, in great fear, cried out loudly, 'Who is this, who is this, hurrying away — seize him, seize him!'

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.18.20)

यावद्भयात्समागत्य तावत्स पुररक्षकैः । पलायमानो निहतः क्षणादन्धत्वमागतः

yāvadbhayātsamāgatya tāvatsa purarakṣakaiḥ | palāyamāno nihataḥ kṣaṇādandhatvamāgataḥ

As he fled in fear, the city guards struck him down while he ran, and in an instant he lost consciousness and died.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.18.21)

अभक्षयच्च नैवेद्यं यज्ञदत्तात्मजो मुने । शिवानुग्रहतो नूनं भाविपुण्यबलान्न सः

abhakṣayacca naivedyaṁ yajñadattātmajo mune | śivānugrahato nūnaṁ bhāvipuṇyabalānna saḥ

O sage, that son of Yajnadatta did not actually eat that offered food — yet by Shiva's grace, and surely by the force of merit soon to ripen, he was not lost.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.18.22)

मृतो बद्धः समागत्य पाशमुद्गरपाणिभिः । निनीषुभिः संयमनीं याम्यैः स विकटैर्भटैः

mṛto baddhaḥ samāgatya pāśamudgarapāṇibhiḥ | ninīṣubhiḥ saṁyamanīṁ yāmyaiḥ sa vikaṭairbhaṭaiḥ

When he died, the fearsome messengers of Yama came, ropes and clubs in hand, bound him, and set out to lead him to the abode of restraint.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.18.23)

तावत्पारिषदाः प्राप्ताः किङ्किणीजालमालिनः । दिव्यं विमानमादाय तं नेतुं शूलपाणयः

tāvatpāriṣadāḥ prāptāḥ kiṅkiṇījālamālinaḥ | divyaṁ vimānamādāya taṁ netuṁ śūlapāṇayaḥ

At that very moment, Shiva's own attendants, adorned with garlands of tinkling bells, arrived bearing a divine celestial chariot, trident in hand, to take him away.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.18.24)

शिवगणा ऊचुः । मुञ्चतैनं द्विजं याम्या गणाः परमधार्मिकम् । दण्डयोग्यो न विप्रोऽसौ दग्धः सर्वाघसञ्चयः

śivagaṇā ūcuḥ | muñcatainaṁ dvijaṁ yāmyā gaṇāḥ paramadhārmikam | daṇḍayogyo na vipro'sau dagdhaḥ sarvāghasañcayaḥ

The Shiva-attendants said: 'Release this brahmin, O attendants of Yama — he is a man of the highest dharma. This brahmin does not deserve punishment; his whole store of sins has been burnt away.'

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.18.25)

इत्याकर्ण्यवचस्ते हि यमराजगणास्ततः । महादेवगणानाहुर्बभूवुश्चकिता भृशम्

ityākarṇyavacaste hi yamarājagaṇāstataḥ | mahādevagaṇānāhurbabhūvuścakitā bhṛśam

Hearing these words, those attendants of Yamaraja were struck with great astonishment, and spoke thus to the attendants of Mahadeva.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.18.26)

शम्भोर्गणानथालोक्य भीतैस्तैर्यमकिङ्करैः । अवादि प्रणतैरित्थं दुर्वृत्तोऽयं गणा द्विजः

śambhorgaṇānathālokya bhītaistairyamakiṅkaraiḥ | avādi praṇatairitthaṁ durvṛtto'yaṁ gaṇā dvijaḥ

Beholding Shambhu's attendants, those messengers of Yama, now afraid, bowed low and said: 'O attendants, this brahmin is a man of evil conduct.'

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.18.27)

यमगणा ऊचुः । कुलाचारं प्रतीर्य्यैष पित्रोर्वाक्यपराङ्मुखः । सत्यशौचपरिभ्रष्टः सन्ध्यास्नानविवर्जितः

yamagaṇā ūcuḥ | kulācāraṁ pratīryyaiṣa pitrorvākyaparāṅmukhaḥ | satyaśaucaparibhraṣṭaḥ sandhyāsnānavivarjitaḥ

The attendants of Yama said: 'This man, transgressing the conduct of his family, turned away from his parents' words, fallen from truth and purity, devoid of evening prayer and ablution —

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.18.28)

आस्तां दूरेऽस्य कर्माणि शिवनिर्माल्यलङ्घकः । प्रत्यक्षतोऽत्र वीक्षध्वमस्पृश्योऽयं भवादृशाम्

āstāṁ dūre'sya karmāṇi śivanirmālyalaṅghakaḥ | pratyakṣato'tra vīkṣadhvamaspṛśyo'yaṁ bhavādṛśām

'let alone his other deeds — this man has trespassed upon Shiva's own discarded offerings (nirmalya). See for yourselves — he is untouchable even to ones such as you.'

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.18.29)

शिवनिर्माल्यभोक्तारः शिवनिर्माल्यलङ्घकाः । शिवनिर्माल्यदातारः स्पर्शस्तेषां ह्यपुण्यकृत्

śivanirmālyabhoktāraḥ śivanirmālyalaṅghakāḥ | śivanirmālyadātāraḥ sparśasteṣāṁ hyapuṇyakṛt

'Those who eat Shiva's discarded offerings, those who trespass upon them, and even those who merely hand them to others — the very touch of such people is a sin.'

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.18.30)

विषमालोक्य वा पेयं श्रेयो वा स्पर्शनं परम् । सेवितव्यं शिवस्वं न प्राणैः कण्ठगतैरपि

viṣamālokya vā peyaṁ śreyo vā sparśanaṁ param | sevitavyaṁ śivasvaṁ na prāṇaiḥ kaṇṭhagatairapi

'Better to knowingly drink poison, or even to merely touch it, than to ever partake of what belongs to Shiva — even with life itself hanging at one's throat.'

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.18.31)

यूयं प्रमाणं धर्मेषु यथा न च तथा वयम् । अस्ति चेद्धर्मलेशोऽस्य गणास्तं शृणुमो वयम्

yūyaṁ pramāṇaṁ dharmeṣu yathā na ca tathā vayam | asti ceddharmaleśo'sya gaṇāstaṁ śṛṇumo vayam

'That you alone are the authority in matters of dharma, and we are not — this is not right. If there is even the least fragment of dharma in this man, O attendants, tell us of it — we shall hear it.'

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.18.32)

इत्थं तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य याम्यानां शिवकिङ्कराः । स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजं प्रोचुः पारिषदास्तु तान्

itthaṁ tadvākyamākarṇya yāmyānāṁ śivakiṅkarāḥ | smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojaṁ procuḥ pāriṣadāstu tān

Hearing these words of Yama's messengers, Shiva's own attendants, calling to mind the lotus feet of Shiva, spoke to them thus.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.18.33)

शिवकिङ्करा ऊचुः । किङ्कराः शिवधर्मा ये सूक्ष्मास्ते तु भवादृशैः । स्थूललक्ष्यैः कथं लक्ष्या लक्ष्या ये सूक्ष्मदृष्टिभिः

śivakiṅkarā ūcuḥ | kiṅkarāḥ śivadharmā ye sūkṣmāste tu bhavādṛśaiḥ | sthūlalakṣyaiḥ kathaṁ lakṣyā lakṣyā ye sūkṣmadṛṣṭibhiḥ

The attendants of Shiva said: 'The subtle truths of Shiva's dharma — how can these be perceived by those of gross vision such as you? They are visible only to those of subtle sight.'

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.18.34)

अनेनानेनसा कर्म यत्कृतं शृणुतेह तत् । यज्ञदत्तात्मजेनाथ सावधानतया गणाः

anenānenasā karma yatkṛtaṁ śṛṇuteha tat | yajñadattātmajenātha sāvadhānatayā gaṇāḥ

'O attendants, listen carefully to that one deed which this sinful son of Yajnadatta performed —'

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.18.35)

पतन्ती लिङ्गशिरसि दीपच्छाया निवारिता । स्वचैलाञ्चलतोऽनेन दत्त्वा दीपदशां निशि

patantī liṅgaśirasi dīpacchāyā nivāritā | svacailāñcalato'nena dattvā dīpadaśāṁ niśi

'The failing shadow of the lamp falling upon the head of the Shiva-linga — this he warded off, in the night, by tearing a wick from the hem of his own garment and rekindling the lamp.'

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.18.36)

अपरोऽपि परो धर्मो जातस्तत्रास्य किङ्कराः । शृण्वतः शिवनामानि प्रसङ्गादपि गृह्यताम्

aparo'pi paro dharmo jātastatrāsya kiṅkarāḥ | śṛṇvataḥ śivanāmāni prasaṅgādapi gṛhyatām

'And a second, still higher merit, O attendants, was gained by him — as he listened to the names of Shiva, even though only in passing, he took them into himself.'

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.18.37)

भक्तेन विधिना पूजा क्रियमाणा निरीक्षिता । उपोषितेन भूतायामनेन स्थिरचेतसा

bhaktena vidhinā pūjā kriyamāṇā nirīkṣitā | upoṣitena bhūtāyāmanena sthiracetasā

'And, fasting, with a steady mind, it beheld the worship being performed with devotion and due rite through the whole of that night.'

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.18.38)

शिवलोकमयं ह्यद्य गन्तास्माभिः सहैव तु । कञ्चित्कालं महाभोगान्करिष्यति शिवानुगः

śivalokamayaṁ hyadya gantāsmābhiḥ sahaiva tu | kañcitkālaṁ mahābhogānkariṣyati śivānugaḥ

'This day he shall go to Shivaloka along with us. As one devoted to Shiva, he shall for some time enjoy great celestial pleasures.'

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.18.39)

कलिङ्गराजो भविता ततो निर्धूतकल्मषः । एष द्विजवरो नूनं शिवप्रियतरो यतः

kaliṅgarājo bhavitā tato nirdhūtakalmaṣaḥ | eṣa dvijavaro nūnaṁ śivapriyataro yataḥ

'And after that, cleansed of all sin, he shall become king of the land of Kalinga. Surely this foremost of brahmins is exceedingly dear to Shiva, for this very reason —'

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.18.40)

अन्यत्किञ्चिन्न वक्तव्यं यूयं यात यथागतम् । यमदूताः स्वलोकं तु सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा

anyatkiñcinna vaktavyaṁ yūyaṁ yāta yathāgatam | yamadūtāḥ svalokaṁ tu suprasannena cetasā

'Nothing more need be said on this matter — go back to your own realm, O messengers of Yama, just as you came, and with a heart now at peace.'

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.18.41)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां यमदूता मुनीश्वर । यथागतं ययुः सर्वे यमलोकं पराङ्मुखाः

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṁ yamadūtā munīśvara | yathāgataṁ yayuḥ sarve yamalokaṁ parāṅmukhāḥ

Brahma said: O lord of sages, hearing these words, all the messengers of Yama turned back and returned to Yama's realm, just as they had come.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.18.42)

सर्वं निवेदयामासुः शमनाय गणा मुने । तद्वृत्तमादितः प्रोक्तं शम्भुदूतैश्च धर्मतः

sarvaṁ nivedayāmāsuḥ śamanāya gaṇā mune | tadvṛttamāditaḥ proktaṁ śambhudūtaiśca dharmataḥ

O sage, those attendants reported the whole matter to Yamaraja, and Shambhu's own messengers too, in accordance with truth, told the entire event from the very beginning.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.18.43)

धर्मराज उवाच । सर्वे शृणुत मद्वाक्यं सावधानतया गणाः । तदेव प्रीत्या कुरुत मच्छासनपुरःसरम्

dharmarāja uvāca | sarve śṛṇuta madvākyaṁ sāvadhānatayā gaṇāḥ | tadeva prītyā kuruta macchāsanapuraḥsaram

Dharmaraja said: 'Listen carefully, all you attendants, to my words, and follow this command of mine with reverence.'

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.18.44)

ये त्रिपुण्ड्रधरा लोके विभूत्या सितया गणाः । ते सर्वे परिहर्तव्या नानेतव्याः कदाचन

ye tripuṇḍradharā loke vibhūtyā sitayā gaṇāḥ | te sarve parihartavyā nānetavyāḥ kadācana

'Whoever in this world bears the tripundra of white sacred ash — all such are to be shunned entirely; they are never to be brought here.'

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.18.45)

उद्धूलनकरा ये हि विभूत्या सितया गणाः । ते सर्वे परिहर्तव्या नानेतव्याः कदाचन

uddhūlanakarā ye hi vibhūtyā sitayā gaṇāḥ | te sarve parihartavyā nānetavyāḥ kadācana

'Whoever smears their whole body with white sacred ash — all such too are to be shunned entirely; they are never to be brought here.'

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.18.46)

शिववेशतया लोके येन केनापि हेतुना । ते सर्वे परिहर्तव्या नानेतव्याः कदाचन

śivaveśatayā loke yena kenāpi hetunā | te sarve parihartavyā nānetavyāḥ kadācana

'Whoever, for any reason whatsoever, bears the outward form of Shiva in this world — all such too are to be shunned; they are never to be brought here.'

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.18.47)

ये रुद्राक्षधरा लोके जटाधारिण एव ये । ते सर्वे परिहर्तव्या नानेतव्याः कदाचन

ye rudrākṣadharā loke jaṭādhāriṇa eva ye | te sarve parihartavyā nānetavyāḥ kadācana

'Whoever in this world wears rudraksha beads, and whoever wears matted locks — all such too are to be shunned; they are never to be brought here.'

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.18.48)

उपजीवनहेतोश्च शिववेशधरा हि ये । ते सर्वे परिहर्तव्या नानेतव्याः कदाचन

upajīvanahetośca śivaveśadharā hi ye | te sarve parihartavyā nānetavyāḥ kadācana

'And even those who bear the outward form of Shiva merely for the sake of livelihood — all such too are to be shunned; they are never to be brought here.'

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.18.49)

दम्भेनापि छलेनापि शिववेशधरा हि ये । ते सर्वे परिहर्तव्या नानेतव्याः कदाचन

dambhenāpi chalenāpi śivaveśadharā hi ye | te sarve parihartavyā nānetavyāḥ kadācana

'Even those who bear the outward form of Shiva out of mere pretense or deceit — all such too are to be shunned; they are never to be brought here.'

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.18.50)

एवमाज्ञापयामास स यमो निजकिङ्करान् । मत्वा तथेति ते सर्वे तूष्णीमासञ्छुचिस्मिताः

evamājñāpayāmāsa sa yamo nijakiṅkarān | matvā tatheti te sarve tūṣṇīmāsañchucismitāḥ

Thus did Yama command his own servants; and all of them, saying 'so be it,' fell silent, smiling with pure hearts.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.18.51)

ब्रह्मोवाच । पार्षदैर्यमदूतेभ्यो मोचितस्त्विति स द्विजः । शिवलोकं जगामाशु तैर्गणैः शुचिमानसः

brahmovāca | pārṣadairyamadūtebhyo mocitastviti sa dvijaḥ | śivalokaṁ jagāmāśu tairgaṇaiḥ śucimānasaḥ

Brahma said: Thus freed by Shiva's own attendants from the messengers of Yama, that brahmin, his mind now pure, went at once to Shivaloka together with those attendants.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.18.52)

तत्र भुक्त्वाखिलान्भोगान्संसेव्य च शिवाशिवौ । अरिन्दमस्य तनयः कलिङ्गाधिपतेरभूत्

tatra bhuktvākhilānbhogānsaṁsevya ca śivāśivau | arindamasya tanayaḥ kaliṅgādhipaterabhūt

There he enjoyed every celestial pleasure and served Shiva and Shiva's consort; and thereafter he was born as the son of Arindama, lord of Kalinga.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.18.53)

दम इत्यभिधानोऽभूच्छिवसेवापरायणः । बालोऽपि शिशुभिः साकं शिवभक्तिं चकार सः

dama ityabhidhāno'bhūcchivasevāparāyaṇaḥ | bālo'pi śiśubhiḥ sākaṁ śivabhaktiṁ cakāra saḥ

He was named Dama, and he was ever devoted to the service of Shiva. Even as a child, he would join the other boys in acts of devotion to Shiva.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.18.54)

क्रमाद्राज्यमवापाथ पितर्युपरते युवा । प्रीत्या प्रवर्तयामास शिवधर्मांश्च सर्वशः

kramādrājyamavāpātha pitaryuparate yuvā | prītyā pravartayāmāsa śivadharmāṁśca sarvaśaḥ

In due course, when his father passed away, that young man obtained the kingdom, and with devotion he set the ordinances of Shiva's worship in motion everywhere.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.18.55)

नान्यं धर्मं स जानाति दुर्दमो भूपतिर्दमः । शिवालयेषु सर्वेषु दीपदानादृते द्विज

nānyaṁ dharmaṁ sa jānāti durdamo bhūpatirdamaḥ | śivālayeṣu sarveṣu dīpadānādṛte dvija

O brahmin, that unconquerable king Dama knew no other dharma than the offering of lamps in the temples of Shiva.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.18.56)

ग्रामाधीशान्समाहूय सर्वान्स विषयस्थितान् । इत्थमाज्ञापयामास दीपा देयाः शिवालये

grāmādhīśānsamāhūya sarvānsa viṣayasthitān | itthamājñāpayāmāsa dīpā deyāḥ śivālaye

Summoning all the village headmen throughout his territory, he issued this command: 'Lamps must without fail be given in every temple of Shiva.'

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.18.57)

अन्यथा सत्यमेवेदं स मे दण्ड्यो भविष्यति । दीपदानाच्छिवस्तुष्टो भवतीति श्रुतीरितम्

anyathā satyamevedaṁ sa me daṇḍyo bhaviṣyati | dīpadānācchivastuṣṭo bhavatīti śrutīritam

'Otherwise, know this for certain — that man shall be punished by me, for the scriptures declare that Shiva is pleased above all by the gift of a lamp.'

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.18.58)

यस्य यस्याभितो ग्रामं यावन्तश्च शिवालयाः । तत्र तत्र सदा दीपो द्योतनीयोऽविचारितम्

yasya yasyābhito grāmaṁ yāvantaśca śivālayāḥ | tatra tatra sadā dīpo dyotanīyo'vicāritam

'Wherever, around every village, there are shrines of Shiva, however many — in each and every one a lamp must always be kept burning, without exception.'

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.18.59)

ममाज्ञाभङ्गदोषेण शिरश्छेत्स्याम्यसंशयम् । इति तद्भयतो दीपा दीप्ताः प्रतिशिवालयम्

mamājñābhaṅgadoṣeṇa śiraśchetsyāmyasaṁśayam | iti tadbhayato dīpā dīptāḥ pratiśivālayam

'For the fault of breaking my command, I shall without doubt sever his head.' In fear of this, lamps came to be lit in every shrine of Shiva.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.18.60)

अनेनैव स धर्मेण यावज्जीवं दमो नृपः । धर्मर्द्धिं महतीं प्राप्य कालधर्मवशं गतः

anenaiva sa dharmeṇa yāvajjīvaṁ damo nṛpaḥ | dharmarddhiṁ mahatīṁ prāpya kāladharmavaśaṁ gataḥ

By this very merit, King Dama attained great abundance of dharma throughout his life, and at last came under the sway of time's decree.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.18.61)

स दीपवासनायोगाद् बहून्दीपान्प्रदीप्य वै । अलकायाः पतिरभूद्रत्नदीपशिखाश्रयः

sa dīpavāsanāyogād bahūndīpānpradīpya vai | alakāyāḥ patirabhūdratnadīpaśikhāśrayaḥ

By the power of that very impression of lighting lamps — having kindled so many — he became the very lord of Alaka, the very refuge of the jeweled lamp's flame: Kubera himself.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.18.62)

एवं फलति कालेन शिवेऽल्पमपि यत्कृतम् । इति ज्ञात्वा शिवे कार्यं भजनं सुसुखार्थिभिः

evaṁ phalati kālena śive'lpamapi yatkṛtam | iti jñātvā śive kāryaṁ bhajanaṁ susukhārthibhiḥ

Thus even the smallest deed done for Shiva, in time, bears great fruit. Knowing this, those who desire true happiness should devote themselves wholly to Shiva.

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.18.63)

क्व स दीक्षितदायादः सर्वधर्मारतिः सदा । शिवालये दैवयोगाद्यातश्चोरयितुं वसु ॥ स्वार्थदीपदशोद्योतलिङ्गमौलितमोहरः

kva sa dīkṣitadāyādaḥ sarvadharmāratiḥ sadā | śivālaye daivayogādyātaścorayituṁ vasu || svārthadīpadaśodyotaliṅgamaulitamoharaḥ

See, O lord of sages — that very son of the dikshita, ever averse to every dharma, who by mere chance had gone to a Shiva-temple only to steal, and who, for his own selfish purpose, had brightened a lamp and thereby dispelled the darkness upon the head of the Shiva-linga —

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.18.64)

कलिङ्गविषये राज्यं प्राप्तो धर्मरतिं सदा । शिवालये समुद्दीप्य दीपान्प्राग्वासनोदयात्

kaliṅgaviṣaye rājyaṁ prāpto dharmaratiṁ sadā | śivālaye samuddīpya dīpānprāgvāsanodayāt

that very person, having obtained the kingdom of Kalinga, ever devoted to dharma, went on kindling lamps in Shiva's temples through the awakening of that same impression from his former birth.

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.18.65)

क्वैषा दिक्पालपदवी मुनीश्वर विलोकय । मनुष्यधर्मिणानेन साम्प्रतं येह भुज्यते

kvaiṣā dikpālapadavī munīśvara vilokaya | manuṣyadharmiṇānena sāmprataṁ yeha bhujyate

See now, O lord of sages, from where he came to this rank of a guardian of the quarters — this is the very fruit of that human act of dharma, which he now enjoys.

Verse 66 (shiva.rudra.18.66)

इति प्रोक्तं गुणनिधेर्यज्ञदत्तात्मजस्य हि । चरितं शिवसन्तोषं शृण्वतां सर्वकामदम्

iti proktaṁ guṇanidheryajñadattātmajasya hi | caritaṁ śivasantoṣaṁ śṛṇvatāṁ sarvakāmadam

Thus has been told this account of Gunanidhi, son of the dikshita — a tale that brings contentment to Shiva, and that grants every wish of those who hear it.

Verse 67 (shiva.rudra.18.67)

सर्वदेवशिवेनासौ सखित्वं च यथेयिवान् । तदप्येकमना भूत्वा शृणु तात ब्रवीमि ते

sarvadevaśivenāsau sakhitvaṁ ca yatheyivān | tadapyekamanā bhūtvā śṛṇu tāta bravīmi te

And how he then came to attain friendship with Shiva, the lord of all the gods — that too, dear one, listen now with a single mind; I shall tell it to you.